Transfer mechanism for knitting machines



June 10 1924.

M. C. MILLER TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Shes t 1June 10 1924.

I M. c. MILLER TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Original FiledApril 5. I92] 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 16, T9240 UNHTE ST-ESntense r aea,

MAX 0. MILLER, or cor/manners]: HILL, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR To annexesKNITTING MACHINE COMPANY, or rAwrUcKE'r, :aHonn ISLAND, A oonronarron FRHODE ISLAND.

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR KNITTING- MACHINES.

Original application filed April 5, 1921, Serial No. 458,640. Dividedand this application filed May 27,

1922. Serial No. 564,208.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that 1, MAX C. MILLER, a citizen of Germany, residing atCumberland Hill, in the county of Cumberland and State of Rhode Island,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Transfer Mechanismfor Knitting Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it'appertains to make and use thesame.

The invention relates to circular knitting machines such as are utilizedin the manufacture of seamless hosiery and more particularly tothe-mechanism utilized in knitting half hose.

The object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient mechanismwhich will automatically level the needles preparatory to transferring aknit top thereto, and which will automatically restore the parts toknitting relation upon starting the machine after the top has beentransferred. To this end the invention comprises the features ofconstruction and combination of parts hereinafter described and referredto in the claims.

The present application is a division of application No. 458,640, filedA. ril 5, 1921, which shows a machine in w ich a preferred form of theinvention has been incorporated. In'the drawings Fig. 1 is a partialside elevation showing so much of the above machine as is,necessary' toillustrate the application of fth'e present invention thereto, Fi 2 is adiagrammatic view showing a evelopment of the cams and devices operatingon the needle butts, Fig. 3 is to a sectional plan view showing the modeof operation of the needle leveling m'echanism, and Fig. 4 is asectional view on line 4, Fig. 3.

The machine shown in the drawings is provided with a rotary needlecylinder-2 in which needles 4 are mounted in the usual manner. Theneedle cylinder is carried on and connected to rotate with a gear 6which is mounted to rotate within a supporting ring 8'. The supportingring is rovided with three spiral or worm ribs 10 w ich rest upon rolls12 carried by vertically adjust-4 able supports'14 and are held firmlyupon the supporting rolls by the rolls 16. By rotation of the worm ringthe needle cylinder vmay be raised and lowered to vary the length andtightness of the stitch or to change the relation of the needles and webholders in transfer work. The ring is forced in a direction to lower theneedle cylinder by a spring indicated at 18 and is moved in the oppositedirection through a horizontal rod 20, the forward end of which engagesan arm 22 depending from the ring, and the rear endof which is engagedby an adjustable screw 24 carried on the lower end of a lever 26. Thelever is mounted on a stud 28 and its upper. end is provided withcontact pieces 30-32 adapted to engage cams carried on the pattern camshaft 34. These cams by engagement with one or the other of the contactpieces determine the height of the nee dle cylinder at various parts ofthe stocking or during the levelin and transfer operations. The needlecy inder is rotated and reciprocated through a gear 36 which engages thegear 6 and is secured to the upper end of a vertical shaft 38, the lowerend of which is connected to a suitably constructed motion changingmechanism.

The needle operating cams and pickers are mounted upon a supportingplate 40 which is provided with a central cylinder 42 surrounding theneedle cylinder, The upper edge of the cylinder forms a ledge 44 forunderlying the needle butts and supporting the needles at the tucklevel. The knitting cams comprise the stitch cams 46 and 48, the needleelevating or side cams 50 and 52, the lower center cam 54 and the uppercenter cam 56, which is formed on a guard plate 58 overlying the stitchand side cams. The narrowing and widening devices comprise the doubleacting needle depressing picker 60 and the two single actingneed-lelifting pickers 62. The instep cam for raising the long butt needlesinto the inactive series at the beginning of the heel or toe and forreturning the inactive needles to the active series at the completion ofthe heel or toe is indicated at 64.

In knitting half hose the needles are automatically leveledsubstantially at the knock-over level after the completed stocking hasbeen run off the needles and before the machine is automaticallystopped. For

this purpose the cylinder 42 is provided with a groove 66 for the buttsof the leveled needles and the side cam 50 is so mounted that it may bemoved radially out of thepath of the needle butts to permit the needlesto be leveled by the stitch cam 4:8 which is active during rotaryknitting. A su plernental leveling cam 68 is also provi ed which ismoved radially inward to depress those needles which are passing up thecam 50 when it is withdrawn. The support 70 which overlies the needlebutts as they approach the picker 62 on reverse stroke in reciprocatoryknitting is also 1 mounted to move radially to allow the passage of anyneedle butts which are on the cam 50 when it is withdrawn. The side cam50 is secured .on theforward end of a radially movable slide 72 and isautomatically withdrawn when the needles are to be leveled by a lever74:; one end of which engages a pin on the slide and the other end ofwhich is engaged by the forward end of a rod 76. The rear end of the rodis en-igaged by aleve27'78 which is in turn engaged and actuated by acam carried by the pattern shaft. The slide 72 is forced forwardby aspring 80. The cam 68 is carried on the end of a lever 82 and is forcedyieldingly forward by a spring 84 connected to the lever. The cam isretracted when the side cam moves forward into activeposition by a pin86 on the slide 72 which engages the end of the lever 82. The sup-35.port 70 is formed on the end of a lever 88 and is held yieldingly inactive position by a spring 90 connected to the lever. The side cam 52is normally in position across the leveling groove 66 and is mounted soto yield radially to permit the assage'of the needle butts travelingalong t e groove, For this purpose the cam is mounted on the end of alever 92 pivoted at 94c and held yieldingly in forward position by aspring pressed plunger 96.

When the needles are to be leveled the completed stocking is run of? andthe latch ring 98 is raised sufficiently to clear the latches on theneedles. The latch ring is thus raised by the advance movement of thepattern shaft which raises the active yarn finger to withdraw theknitting yarn and which throws into operation a yarn severing andclamping mechanism (not shown) mounted on the latch ring. Means forlifting the latch ring'cornprises a lever 100 pivoted on the stud 102 onwhich the latch ring is pivoted and provided atits forward end with alateral projection underlying to the latch ring carrier. The lower endof the lever is acted on by a cam carried by the pattern shaft. Afterthe latch ring is raised the pattern shaft is again advanced andretracts the side cam 50 at the point in the on rotation of the needlecylinder when the first of the series of long butt needles are passingup the cam as indicated in Fig. 3. The withdrawal of the side campermits the cam 68 to move forward so that it rests against the ends ofthe short butts and is in position to deflect and engage the long buttswhich were passing up the cam 50 and to direct thesef needles down ontothe incline 104 which completes their movement into the leveling groove66. The remaining long butt needles and all of the short butt needlesare directed down into the leveling groove by the stitch cam 48 so thatat the completion of a revolution of the needle cylinder all of theneedles will have been brought to the knock-over levels with their upperends below the tops of the 7 web holders'106. The needles having beenleveled the machine is automatically stopped by the action of" a cam onthe pattern shaft in any suitable or well known manner. The

operator then swings the latch ring up out of the way and applies thequill cup to the web holders. Then the needles are projected into thequills by lowering the needle cylinder. To permit the'abnormal rotationof the worm ring 8 requisite for projecting the needles u into thequills the cam w ich engages tliecontact piece 30 on the end of thelever 26 is provided with a deep depression 108 which registers with thecontact piece when the machine is stopped. To permit the contact pieceto enter this recess, the cams which-register with the contact piece 32at this point in the rotation of the pattern shaft when knittingfashioned stockings, are removed when knitting half hose. The ,irotationof the worm ring in a direction to lower the needle cylinder is at thistime limited by a latch 110 mounted on the outside of the casing 112 andprovidedwith a'shoulder 114C adapted to engage an arm 116 which projectsfrom the worm ring through a slot 118 in the casing. The latch is heldin engagement with the under side of the arm by a spring 120. After thequill cup has been applied to the web holders the latch 110 is depressedby the operator, thus freeing the wormring sothat it is moved by itsspring in a direction to lower the cylinder until the arm 22 brings upagainst the stop screw 23. This projects the needles up above the webholders and into position to receive the loops carried by the transferquill cup. After the loops have been transferred the latch ring is swungdown into position and the machine is started, The pattern shaft is inmediately advanced and the cam 122 on the pater-n shaft acts on thecontactpiece 86 s of the lever 26 and; turns the worm ring tolift theneedle cylinder into such position that the web holders are slightlyabove the tops of the needles. The worm ring rests here during one ortwo revolutions 'llOd Licence of the needle cylinder so that thestitches carried by'the needles are brought under the nibs of the webholders by the Withdrawal and advance of the Web holders by theiractuating cams during such revolutions. The continued movement of the attern shaft then causes the cam 1% to urther rotate the worm ring andlift the needle cylinder to knitting position. in order that theposition of the web holders with relation to the tops of the leveledneedles may be varied in accordance with the character of the yarn usedand work being done thecam 122 is mounted for radial adjustment to varyits lifting efiect on the needle cylinder as indicated in Fig. 1,

After the needle cylinder has been raised to knittingposition thepattern shaft is given another advanced movement to release the side camslide 72 and also drop into active position one of the yarn carrierfingers 126.. The side cam slide is released when the short butt needlesare passing the cam so v that i forced inward by the spring and ridesagainst the short butt needles. This movement of'theieam slide alsowithdraws the cam 68. Since the side cam rides against the ends of theshort butt it is in position to engage and raise the long butts to thetuck level. After the short butts have passed the cam moves forward intoidl position where it will act on both the long and short butts. As theneedles approach the side cam 50 they are pressed back in the needlegroove so that none of the short butts will project far enough to rideup the cam by a spring pressed finger 128 which is mounted to swingradially and is pressed inward by a spring 136, The needles are thusreturned to the active level and pass through the knitting cams, theneedles at the forward end of the long butt series being the first to beraised and the first to pass through the knitting cams, will. therefore,begin on the first long butt needle.

While it is preferred to employ the specific construction andarrangement of parts shown and described in embodying the inventioninthe machine shown and described in the application above reterredto itwill be understood that this construction and arrangement is notessential to the broader features of the invention and may be varied ormodified as found desirable or best suited to the construction and modeof operation of the machine to which it is to be applied.

What is claimed is:

l. A knitting machine having, in combination, a needle cylinder, webholders, knitting cams, means acting to automatically level the needles,manually controlled means 'for lowering the web holders to projecttheleveled needles upward with relation to the The knitting fore themachinestops to level the needlesbelow their normal level, manuallycontrolled means for projecting the level nee dles upward with relationto the web, hold- 1 ers, means acting automatically upon start-v ing themachine to position the web holders approximately at the level'ofthetops of the needles for at least one revolution to bring the stitchesunder the nibs of the web holders, and means for thereafter restoring toknitting relation the needles, web holders,v

and knitting cams.

3. A knitting machine having, in combination, a needle cylinder, webholders, knitting cams, means for leveling the needles at substantiallythe knock-over level, means for thereafter lowering the cylinder and webholders to project the needles up above the web holders. means forraising the cylinder and web holders to an intermediate position for oneor more revolutions to bring the stitches under the nibs of the webholders and then completing their upward movement, and means forthereafter returning the needles and knitting cams to knitting relation.

4 A. knitting machinedaaving, in combi-- nation, a needle cylinder, webholders, imittin cams means actin antomaticall to v position and after ashort interval during which the stitches are brought under the nibs ofthe Web holders complete its return movement, and means forautomatically restoring the needles and knitting cam to knittingrelation after the needle cylinder has been returned to lmittingposition 5. A knitting machine having, in combination, a needlecylinder, stitch and side cams, means for withdrawing a side cam tolevel the needles by a stitch cam, and a snplemental leveling cam foractinTg on to needles which register with the side cam when it iswithdrawn, 1

6. A knitting, machine having, in combination, avneedle cylinder, stitchearns, a radially movable side cam, a radially movable supplementalleveling cam, means for retracting the side cam and advanc'zig: the

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supplemental cam to level the needles helow the stitch cam.

7. A knitting machine having, in combination, a needle cylinder, stitchand side cams, a cam cylinder having a leveling groove belovv the stitchcam, means for Withdrawing the side cam which is active during rotaryknitting to cause the needles to be directed into the leveling groove bythe corresponding stitch can], a supplemental leveling cain moved intothe needle path upon the Withdrawal of the side cam to direct theneedles registering With the side cam down into the leveling groove.

8. A knitting machine having, in cornloination, a needle cylinder,stitch and side cams, pickers, a radially yielding support underlyingone oi the lifting pickers, means for Withdrawing the adjacent side camto cause the needles to he leveled by the cooperating stitch cam, and asupplemental levelingcarn for leveling the needles registering with theside cam When it is Withdrawn.

9., A knitting machine having, in cornloi-ination, a needle cylinderstitch and side cams means for radially Withdrawing a side cam to permitthe needles to he leveled loy a stitch earn, and a supplemental levelingcam "for depressing to the leveling level the needles which registerwith the side cam when it is withdrawn.

10. A knitting machine having, in combination, needle cylinder stitchand side asse s-so cams, a. cam cylinder having a leveling groove belowthe stitch cam, means for radially Withdrawing the side earn which isactive during rotary knitting to cause the needles to he directed intothe leveling groove loy the corresponding stitch cam, and a supleinental leveling earn moved into the nee e path upon the Withdrawalof the side cam to direct the needles registering with the side cam downinto the leveling groove,

ll. A knitting machine having, in cornloination a needle cylinder,stitch and side cams, means "for radially Withdrawing the side cam whichis active during rotary knitting to cause the needles to he leveled hythe corresponding stitch cam, and means for supporting the other sidecam to yield dially to permit the passage of the leveled needles,

12. A knitting machine having, in combination, a needle cylinder, longand short hutt needles carried thereloy stitch and side cams, means forradially Withdrawing the side cain "which is active during rotaryknitting to cause the needles to he leveled by the corresponding stitchcam, means for pressing the side cani radially inward when the shortlontt needles of the leveled needles re passing, and a radiallyroova-hle sp pressed finger tor pressing the needles L. into thecylinder as they approach the o Mitten.

